Dealers Care

Third generation Texas car dealer, Ray Huffines has continued the legacy of one of our state’s most respected franchised dealer families.

The Huffines Dealer Group started in Denton in 1924. Ray Huffines’ grandfather, J.L. Huffines, Sr., was first a Willys-Overland dealer, adding Chevrolet a few miles down the road in 1927 in Lewisville. Ray’s father, J.L. Huffines, Jr. opened a second Chevrolet Point in Commerce, Texas in the 1950’s.

From that modest beginning in Denton County, the Huffines organization under the leadership of Ray Huffines has grown to nine dealerships in three north Texas counties, selling 15,000 new and used vehicles per year. Click here to Read More

Tom and Susan Durant and The Classic Chevrolet Family Still Number One

What made this accomplishment even more remarkable was the fact that major highway construction surrounding the dealership for all of 2013 had made it almost impossible to reach the dealership.

The incredible staff at Classic Chevrolet never took their eye off of the national leadership goal in spite of blocked road exits, ever changing detours and shutdowns of the main roadways on key sales weekends. It took a sprint in the homestretch, but there are now eight national championship trophies displayed in the showroom at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas.

Tom and Susan Durant, the owners of Classic Chevrolet, are as well known for their community service as for their sales leadership. Click here to Read More

Jerry and Vickie Durant

Jerry Durant and his wife, Vickie are the role models for leadership and community service in the cities and towns touched by the Durant family of dealerships. True Texans, they combine their love for horses and their love of people, particularly children, in their charitable and educational outreach.

They are honorary chairs of the Careity Celebrity Cutting Horse Competition supporting cancer patients and children suffering debilitating diseases. The Don Allen Health Science Building at Weatherford College is also named for Jerry Durant’s partner, Don Allen. Click here to Read More

Community Heroes
Sykora Family Ford and Greg May Chevrolet

On April 17, 2013 a disastrous explosion occurred at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, which left the town in a state of shock. Nearly every citizen of the town of 2,800 was affected in some way by the tragedy. Today the community is still recovering, but has Sykora Family Ford and Greg May Chevrolet to thank for their immediate and ongoing support in the healing process.

When the magnitude of the explosion became apparent to the community, the response from West’s two franchised new car dealers was immediate. Sykora Family Ford went on social media the night of the tragedy to notify residents that the dealership was available as a meeting place. The following day, the Sykora dealership was established as a collection point for goods to distribute to families who had suffered a loss.

Greg May Chevrolet was equally involved in the community outreach to those in West and surrounding areas, in spite of suffering significant physical damage to their own dealership. With the dealership closer to the blast area, the Greg May Chevrolet staff, led by General Manager Gary Rodenbaugh, protected their customers immediately following the explosion by securing them in a cement block building in the back of the dealership until it was safe for them to travel home to assess the damage to their own property. Click here to Read More

Guardian Angel of Loving Pets

In recent years Denton, Texas was desperately in need of a new facility for animal rescue and adoption, but without sufficient city funding they needed someone from the community to step forward and make the initial commitment to launch the project.

As is the case in so many Texas communities, that commitment came from a car dealer family, the McNatts – Jim and Linda. Here is the story of how one dealer family came through for their hometown in a very important way.

Jim decided to honor Linda for her dedication to animal rescue, especially cats. The opportunity arose when he was approached by Denton Animal Shelter Foundation, Inc. (DASF) Chairwoman Bette Sherman concerning the need for a new municipal animal shelter. Click here to Read More

Dealer Associations Support Don A. Buckalew Elementary School

Former TADA Chairman Don A Buckalew recently presented contributions from the NADA Charitable Trust, the TADA Foundation and the HADA Foundation to his namesake school in The Woodlands.

Dedicated in 1998, Don A. Buckalew Elementary School is an award winning institution whose vision statement, “A Learner-Centered School and a caring community preparing students to be successful in life” reflects the principles and values of Conroe Chevrolet dealer Don Buckalew. Click here to Read More